Page:Witty and entertaining exploits of George Buchanan (17).pdf/26

( 26 ) what it is? Yes, ſays George, it is, the Bible, the beſt book for a biſhop I know, if he had eyes to ſee the inſide of it: So he deſired George to read a piece of it? but when he did he could not underſtand it, he therefore deſired him to explain which ſentence he did as follows, Iſa. ix. 16 For the leaders of the people cauſed them to err, and they that are led of them are deſtroyed." To which George added, this is, the blind leading the bind. So taking his leave of the biſhop, he parted with him, ſaying theſe words:

Good night, hail Mr biſhop, of books you have great ſtore, Yet cannot read the half of them, then what uſe are they for? Many of the clergymen in England deſired greatly to be in company with George, becauſe of his comical and witty expreſſions, ſo George happened one night to be called into a company, where there were two biſhops, as alſo a prieſt, who wanted to be licenſed by them. One of the biſhops aſked George, Why the people of Scotland did not love biſhops? Becauſe ſays George, they are like old beggars advanced to be rulers over barrow men, fill inſtructing them in things they know not themſelves, ordering them to carry ſtones to the builders, which they will not receive, and which they, themſelves had never power to move; the Scots having knowledge of this hate to ſee the biſhops have great lordſhips for their ignorance, and the poor labourers have little or nothing for their toil. One of the biſhops looking at George with an angry countenance, anſwered, ſaying, Thou Scot muſt be made a biſhop yourſelf, and the biſhops made prieſts, and that will ſerve well for your turn. No, no, ſaid George, that will not do, for if I be made a biſhop I'll have no broken biſhops to ſerve as prieſts under me, for they are ſuch bad maſters they will become the worſt of all ſervants. At this the two biſhops left the room in a great paſſion, leaving George and the young prieſt only by themſelves Now, now, ſays George, this proves the biſhops to be but hirelings, and not true ſhepherds, (pointing to the young prieſt) you ſee they have fled for their own ſafety, and left you a lamb before the mouth of me a fox, and who knows but I may worry you. Run, run, too, maſter ſheep, ſays George, and if you have eyes, guide thoſe two blind ſhepherds down ſtairs, and over ditches, but I am afraid you will all tumble in a ditch together, this raiſed ſuch an indignation in the biſhops breaſts, that thay deſired no more of George's company and converſation.

One time after this, George being in the country, about twenty miles diſtant from London, and on his way homeward